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Dog Food. Know what your feeding your Doberman or other pet
*Good food first.
I recommend a good Holistic food. (I feed Blue Life protection formula Puppy, and adult and Nutro Max Holistic. . )Purchased at Pet Smart. Why Holistic you ask?? Well if you read the ingredient label of most dog food you will find that they contain Meat-By-Product, or Chicken-By-Products, or Animal digest, or Animal By Product , Do you know what goes in these by products?? Well I did not until I got to researching my dogs foods. And I was appalled. I could not believe what I found. And I found it all on the Internet. Although you may think all pet food manufacturers have your pet’s best interests in mind, this is not always the case. Current pet food regulations allow manufacturers to use ingredients that you would never knowingly give to your pet. In fact, you may be shocked to learn what some brands of pet food really contain. For example: the use of by-products (feet, bones and intestines, etc.), chemical preservatives (BHA and BHT) and grains that are often difficult to digest (corn, wheat, gluten and soy), which are often used as a protein source instead of meat.
This is some of what goes into standard dog food and this is food from even the top brands of food like Alpo, Pedigree, Science Diet and many many more.
Altho Science diet now has a natural dog food without by products. But they are way below Blue Buffalo in what it has. And is about the same price or more expensive. Purina also has finally come out with a holistic Dog Food. It is called Purina Pro Plan. But in comparison to Blue Buffalo it came up short. And is about the same price. So for my money Blue Buffalo is still tops.As it has so much more in it.
Animal Digest --According to the AAFCO this is what can be and is used in Animal Digest . (Animal digest is a common ingredient used in pet foods. It is material which results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and un-decomposed animal tissue. The animal tissues used shall be exclusive of hair, horns, teeth, hooves and feathers, except in such trace amounts as might occur unavoidably in good factory practice and shall be suitable for animal feed.[1]
As defined by the AAFCO, it is produced by chemically or enzymatically treating animal tissue (such as flesh, bone, organs, etc.) from slaughterhouses and other sources, in a process akin to rendering.
Yet another expert defines this as "a cooked-down broth" which can be made from unspecified parts of unspecified animals. The animals used can be obtained from almost any source and no control is in place over quality or contamination. Any kind of animal can be included: "4-D animals" (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), goats, pigs, horses, rats, euthanized at animal shelters, restaurant and supermarket refuse and so on.")
Animal By Products--Animal by-products are biodegradable wastes consisting of animal carcases, parts of animal carcases, products of animal origin which are not intended for human consumption, includes catering waste (all waste food from restaurants, catering facilities, central kitchens, slaughterhouses and household kitchens).
Beef By Products -- The dreaded 4 D’s.. Dead, diseased, disabled or dying animals are used. This can include according to the AAFCO any part of the animal. And can include animals from Shelters that have been Euthanized, or died natural death, road kill , Slaughter house animals that cannot be used for human consumption even if there diseased.
Chicken By Products can include Chicken feet, legs, beaks, dead, diseased or dying animals.
Now why would I want to feed that to my babies. Go here and watch this video. I am not recommending this particular holistic food. But the video tells it like it is.This video is a must see if you truly love your pet.
I tried there food and ran it in my comparison of which dog food was best. It is good but the Blue was better. Had more ingredients, more vitamins, minerals, and herbs. And My dogs seemed to like it better.
Your dog needs vegetables, fruits, vitamins, minerals, Fish Oils for there skin and coat. And your only going to find this in a holistic food. I have spent days,weeks,and months researching dog foods. I have ordered off the Internet and bought from stores. And I have bought and tried many holistic foods with my dogs. And the one that I like best and my dogs like it too.is Blue Life protection formula. My babies like the one in the orange bag best but I think that's because it has molasses in it. I use the light blue bag, orange bag, and red bag. They all 3 have different things in them. The puppy formula has the most and that's my main feeder food.Each of the other feeders have one variety in it. I had purchased it off the Internet till I found that Pet Smart carried it, and it was cheaper at Pet Smart. Now the first thing your going to say is it costs so much. But in time I have found that I am actually paying less cause my dogs are not having to eat so much trying to get the nutrition they need. In a regular dog food it will tell you to feed 8-9cups of food a day for your full grown dog. With the holistic you may feed between 3-5. Each food varies some. My dogs have free choice from the time they start eating and I find that they stay healthy. They don’t wolf down there food when you feed cause your only feeding once a day. My dogs are not overweight and my Vet says they look fantastic every time I take them in. There coats are soft and shiny. They seem to have more energy and play a lot more. Tho they had enough to start with. I don’t have dandruff or skin problems. And they seem to stay cleaner.. I don’t have to bathe them monthly. Which is really hard on them as it dries the skin out causing the dandruff type flaking and itchy skin according to my vet.
I could go on about how much difference I have seen in my animals but you need to try it for yourself.
If your interested in cooking for your dog and want more info Here is 2 sites that you can use. Web sites such as www.BalanceIT.com and www.PetDIETS.com may be helpful in that regard. But they charge you for doing up a recipe.
I do have a recipe book in ebook form if your interested. Just email me and ask about it.
For those that use vitamins. I have tried many different ones but the one that I like the best is NuVet Comes in tablet and powder.
I like the ingredients and what it says it can do for my pet. It is cold processed so looses none of its goodness. To see the ingrediants it has and what they do for your pet visit there website.
I can also recommend Show Stopper It is a powder that you sprinkle in there food. It has Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM-even HA for joint health. Omega 3,6,DHA & more for the coat. Vitamins, Minerals, Pre/Probiotics FOS & Lactobacillus Plus. L-Carnitine,L-glutamine & more for Muscle/Performance. And Antioxidants -Blueberries, Grape seed, -even lycopene . And you can buy this in 1# cans for around $18.00 at PetCo or on PetCo 's website,usually cheaper on the website. But for the best deal I have found at the best price has been Show & Sport.com
You can buy it in bulk 30# bag and the cost is about $6.00 a pound. You can get smaller quantity's also. It is about the same as NuVet but a bit more expensive. I have used both and they seem about the same.I currently have my babies on the NuVet.
In a 23 qt cooker put in 5-7 # meat already cooked, 3 cups rice, 3 cups noodles (any kind or shape) 3 cups oatmeal, 1 or 2 bags of frozen mixed vegetables, 2 bag of frozen stir fry vegetables.( I use 2 different stir fry's as they have different veggies in them )And about 40 cups of water.Garlic chopped up fresh or powder, a dash of salt and pepper and season salt, dash of cinnamon. Then I season it with regular spice's that I use in making a stew. Put on and cook.As it thickens I add water if necessary. I cook it about an hour or so till it is all cooked up soft and mushy. Then I put in 16oz containers and freeze. I usually get 40+ containers out of a batch. And my cost is about 28cents a serving. Your price will vary according to what you pay for your items. Now if you want to do a small batch, cut the cups to 1 cup each. This cooked stew is also edible by us. I cook chicken and dumplings, or turkey and dumplings with mixed veggies added in. I mix the veggies in the batter before dropping into my boiling liquid and or just put in the broth from the chicken or turkey. My dogs love it. In the evening I add 1 container of my home cooked food to there dry food. It is there Treat meal as I call it. As my dogs have dry 24/7. They eat when they get hungry.
If your working on keeping a nice shiny coat there are many things you can do to help keep it that way. I add Olive oil, and egg to there evening treat meal. There evening treat meal is 1 cup dry, 1# cooked, 1 egg, 1 tsp.Olive oil, 2 slice's bread, 1 NuVet tab or 1 scoop showstopper . Mix up well and feed. A good Holistic canned food is Max or Authority. My dogs prefer Max. ( Occasionally I also use Alpo chunk.My one concession to a non holistic food. And the reason is I know a truck driver that delivers the meats to the plant for processing and he says he has never seen any food in the 4 D category ever come in to them. All the trucks are refrigerated and he claims is standard beef and chicken. )
My babies also get liver milkshake. . I mix liver, milk, egg, olive oil, showstopper in a blender making them a milkshake. When I turn that blender on no matter where there at outside within seconds I have all 7 sitting at my feet waiting. Just like an athlete that drinks raw eggs and liver which we think is disgusting but they think its great, they do it for a reason. Well the same holds true for your baby. It is good for them.
I have been asked about what I cook for my babies. This is what I use in my stew. Mind you I am making a 22qt cooker full. So you would have to adjust accordingly
My recipe
6-8# of venison.Venison is super high in protein.(You can use any meat) I get mine from the meat processing place during deer season. They really waste a lot and throw away a lot.
2 # mixed vegetables (beans,corn,peas,carrots) or 2# Gumbo mixed Vegetables, (Beans,Peas, corn,Okra, Lima beans, red peppers,
carrots, squash)
2 # stir fry vegetables, (broccoli, cauliflower, onions,carrots,)
4 cups rice,
4 cups any macaroni product.( I like spaghetti as it is thin and seems to spread thru-out the mixture better. If I use noodles I crush them up)
4 cups oatmeal.
1 Loaf 7 grain or other wheat type bread.In a bowl I blend it up in the broth from cooking and add it back to the pot.
Spices, I spice just like I would for me, Using Bay Leaves, Oregano,Thyme,Basil,Parsley,garlic,Season Salt.(Lowrys) Salt & cinnamon. My salt is sea salt.
Sometimes I will add a granola mix to the pot.
I cook it all up adding the oatmeal & Granola mix last thing after all the veggies noodles and rice are cooked. Let it thicken up and then put it in 1# containers. 16oz plastic freezer bowls. Then each evening they get one serving of cooked with 1 1/2 cups dry, 1 tsp Olive oil, 1 egg every other day, Show stopper or NuVet, Blend it all up and that's there supper.
They get beef rib bones. Raw part of the time but most of the time cooked. I like to BBQ and they love it. Good for them and good for the teeth. And they love it. The bone cooks up softer if you wrap the Ribs in tin foil before cooking. They actually Steam cook.
Buy a chicken and cook it up. Not fried but boiled. bone it out and make them a chicken meal.I make up dumpling dough and put in it and we all have chicken and dumplings. Neck bones if you can find them are terrific for them. There packed with good stuff. If you cook the chicken long enough and get the bones soft enough you can run them through a blender and make a puree out of them. I just drop chunks of chicken and bone in blender and blend. Pressure cooking makes em really soft. And there are so many nutrients in it.
My babies also get Venison. I get it from the meat processing place's and cook it up and freeze it. Then they have a supply of meat for a while.
The difference in feeding what your baby really needs and just feeding it puppy food is the size of your baby. Most pups fed on regular dog food are going to be around 7-8# at 6 weeks. Puppies raised on really good food are going to be 9-13# at 6 weeks. This is speaking from experience with mine and My Daughters puppies on Holistic food and all that I feed my puppies.
From Ike Brown I got this chart on where your puppy should be at what age. See below. Fed Standard Puppy food.
Puppies usually weigh between 8 and 16 oz. at birth:
Well have a good time with your babies and if you have any questions feel free to email any of us and ask. There is never a dumb question.
I recommend a good Holistic food. (I feed Blue Life protection formula Puppy, and adult and Nutro Max Holistic. . )Purchased at Pet Smart. Why Holistic you ask?? Well if you read the ingredient label of most dog food you will find that they contain Meat-By-Product, or Chicken-By-Products, or Animal digest, or Animal By Product , Do you know what goes in these by products?? Well I did not until I got to researching my dogs foods. And I was appalled. I could not believe what I found. And I found it all on the Internet. Although you may think all pet food manufacturers have your pet’s best interests in mind, this is not always the case. Current pet food regulations allow manufacturers to use ingredients that you would never knowingly give to your pet. In fact, you may be shocked to learn what some brands of pet food really contain. For example: the use of by-products (feet, bones and intestines, etc.), chemical preservatives (BHA and BHT) and grains that are often difficult to digest (corn, wheat, gluten and soy), which are often used as a protein source instead of meat.
This is some of what goes into standard dog food and this is food from even the top brands of food like Alpo, Pedigree, Science Diet and many many more.
Altho Science diet now has a natural dog food without by products. But they are way below Blue Buffalo in what it has. And is about the same price or more expensive. Purina also has finally come out with a holistic Dog Food. It is called Purina Pro Plan. But in comparison to Blue Buffalo it came up short. And is about the same price. So for my money Blue Buffalo is still tops.As it has so much more in it.
Animal Digest --According to the AAFCO this is what can be and is used in Animal Digest . (Animal digest is a common ingredient used in pet foods. It is material which results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and un-decomposed animal tissue. The animal tissues used shall be exclusive of hair, horns, teeth, hooves and feathers, except in such trace amounts as might occur unavoidably in good factory practice and shall be suitable for animal feed.[1]
As defined by the AAFCO, it is produced by chemically or enzymatically treating animal tissue (such as flesh, bone, organs, etc.) from slaughterhouses and other sources, in a process akin to rendering.
Yet another expert defines this as "a cooked-down broth" which can be made from unspecified parts of unspecified animals. The animals used can be obtained from almost any source and no control is in place over quality or contamination. Any kind of animal can be included: "4-D animals" (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), goats, pigs, horses, rats, euthanized at animal shelters, restaurant and supermarket refuse and so on.")
Animal By Products--Animal by-products are biodegradable wastes consisting of animal carcases, parts of animal carcases, products of animal origin which are not intended for human consumption, includes catering waste (all waste food from restaurants, catering facilities, central kitchens, slaughterhouses and household kitchens).
Beef By Products -- The dreaded 4 D’s.. Dead, diseased, disabled or dying animals are used. This can include according to the AAFCO any part of the animal. And can include animals from Shelters that have been Euthanized, or died natural death, road kill , Slaughter house animals that cannot be used for human consumption even if there diseased.
Chicken By Products can include Chicken feet, legs, beaks, dead, diseased or dying animals.
Now why would I want to feed that to my babies. Go here and watch this video. I am not recommending this particular holistic food. But the video tells it like it is.This video is a must see if you truly love your pet.
I tried there food and ran it in my comparison of which dog food was best. It is good but the Blue was better. Had more ingredients, more vitamins, minerals, and herbs. And My dogs seemed to like it better.
Your dog needs vegetables, fruits, vitamins, minerals, Fish Oils for there skin and coat. And your only going to find this in a holistic food. I have spent days,weeks,and months researching dog foods. I have ordered off the Internet and bought from stores. And I have bought and tried many holistic foods with my dogs. And the one that I like best and my dogs like it too.is Blue Life protection formula. My babies like the one in the orange bag best but I think that's because it has molasses in it. I use the light blue bag, orange bag, and red bag. They all 3 have different things in them. The puppy formula has the most and that's my main feeder food.Each of the other feeders have one variety in it. I had purchased it off the Internet till I found that Pet Smart carried it, and it was cheaper at Pet Smart. Now the first thing your going to say is it costs so much. But in time I have found that I am actually paying less cause my dogs are not having to eat so much trying to get the nutrition they need. In a regular dog food it will tell you to feed 8-9cups of food a day for your full grown dog. With the holistic you may feed between 3-5. Each food varies some. My dogs have free choice from the time they start eating and I find that they stay healthy. They don’t wolf down there food when you feed cause your only feeding once a day. My dogs are not overweight and my Vet says they look fantastic every time I take them in. There coats are soft and shiny. They seem to have more energy and play a lot more. Tho they had enough to start with. I don’t have dandruff or skin problems. And they seem to stay cleaner.. I don’t have to bathe them monthly. Which is really hard on them as it dries the skin out causing the dandruff type flaking and itchy skin according to my vet.
I could go on about how much difference I have seen in my animals but you need to try it for yourself.
If your interested in cooking for your dog and want more info Here is 2 sites that you can use. Web sites such as www.BalanceIT.com and www.PetDIETS.com may be helpful in that regard. But they charge you for doing up a recipe.
I do have a recipe book in ebook form if your interested. Just email me and ask about it.
For those that use vitamins. I have tried many different ones but the one that I like the best is NuVet Comes in tablet and powder.
I like the ingredients and what it says it can do for my pet. It is cold processed so looses none of its goodness. To see the ingrediants it has and what they do for your pet visit there website.
1-800-474-7044 referral code 98794
I can also recommend Show Stopper It is a powder that you sprinkle in there food. It has Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM-even HA for joint health. Omega 3,6,DHA & more for the coat. Vitamins, Minerals, Pre/Probiotics FOS & Lactobacillus Plus. L-Carnitine,L-glutamine & more for Muscle/Performance. And Antioxidants -Blueberries, Grape seed, -even lycopene . And you can buy this in 1# cans for around $18.00 at PetCo or on PetCo 's website,usually cheaper on the website. But for the best deal I have found at the best price has been Show & Sport.com
You can buy it in bulk 30# bag and the cost is about $6.00 a pound. You can get smaller quantity's also. It is about the same as NuVet but a bit more expensive. I have used both and they seem about the same.I currently have my babies on the NuVet.
If you have the time the best canned is home cooked. LOL> For a good holistic food you pay $1 up.. I cook for my kids now. And my cost for the same amount as in a can figures out to about 28 cents. That's for a 16oz serving. (Alabama Prices) I cook up big kettles at a time and freeze it in 16oz containers and pull it when I need it. Thaw, heat, and use. It is better for your dog. Below is one of my recipes for home cooked stew.
In a 23 qt cooker put in 5-7 # meat already cooked, 3 cups rice, 3 cups noodles (any kind or shape) 3 cups oatmeal, 1 or 2 bags of frozen mixed vegetables, 2 bag of frozen stir fry vegetables.( I use 2 different stir fry's as they have different veggies in them )And about 40 cups of water.Garlic chopped up fresh or powder, a dash of salt and pepper and season salt, dash of cinnamon. Then I season it with regular spice's that I use in making a stew. Put on and cook.As it thickens I add water if necessary. I cook it about an hour or so till it is all cooked up soft and mushy. Then I put in 16oz containers and freeze. I usually get 40+ containers out of a batch. And my cost is about 28cents a serving. Your price will vary according to what you pay for your items. Now if you want to do a small batch, cut the cups to 1 cup each. This cooked stew is also edible by us. I cook chicken and dumplings, or turkey and dumplings with mixed veggies added in. I mix the veggies in the batter before dropping into my boiling liquid and or just put in the broth from the chicken or turkey. My dogs love it. In the evening I add 1 container of my home cooked food to there dry food. It is there Treat meal as I call it. As my dogs have dry 24/7. They eat when they get hungry.
If your working on keeping a nice shiny coat there are many things you can do to help keep it that way. I add Olive oil, and egg to there evening treat meal. There evening treat meal is 1 cup dry, 1# cooked, 1 egg, 1 tsp.Olive oil, 2 slice's bread, 1 NuVet tab or 1 scoop showstopper . Mix up well and feed. A good Holistic canned food is Max or Authority. My dogs prefer Max. ( Occasionally I also use Alpo chunk.My one concession to a non holistic food. And the reason is I know a truck driver that delivers the meats to the plant for processing and he says he has never seen any food in the 4 D category ever come in to them. All the trucks are refrigerated and he claims is standard beef and chicken. )
My babies also get liver milkshake. . I mix liver, milk, egg, olive oil, showstopper in a blender making them a milkshake. When I turn that blender on no matter where there at outside within seconds I have all 7 sitting at my feet waiting. Just like an athlete that drinks raw eggs and liver which we think is disgusting but they think its great, they do it for a reason. Well the same holds true for your baby. It is good for them.
I have been asked about what I cook for my babies. This is what I use in my stew. Mind you I am making a 22qt cooker full. So you would have to adjust accordingly
My recipe
6-8# of venison.Venison is super high in protein.(You can use any meat) I get mine from the meat processing place during deer season. They really waste a lot and throw away a lot.
2 # mixed vegetables (beans,corn,peas,carrots) or 2# Gumbo mixed Vegetables, (Beans,Peas, corn,Okra, Lima beans, red peppers,
carrots, squash)
2 # stir fry vegetables, (broccoli, cauliflower, onions,carrots,)
4 cups rice,
4 cups any macaroni product.( I like spaghetti as it is thin and seems to spread thru-out the mixture better. If I use noodles I crush them up)
4 cups oatmeal.
1 Loaf 7 grain or other wheat type bread.In a bowl I blend it up in the broth from cooking and add it back to the pot.
Spices, I spice just like I would for me, Using Bay Leaves, Oregano,Thyme,Basil,Parsley,garlic,Season Salt.(Lowrys) Salt & cinnamon. My salt is sea salt.
Sometimes I will add a granola mix to the pot.
I cook it all up adding the oatmeal & Granola mix last thing after all the veggies noodles and rice are cooked. Let it thicken up and then put it in 1# containers. 16oz plastic freezer bowls. Then each evening they get one serving of cooked with 1 1/2 cups dry, 1 tsp Olive oil, 1 egg every other day, Show stopper or NuVet, Blend it all up and that's there supper.
They get beef rib bones. Raw part of the time but most of the time cooked. I like to BBQ and they love it. Good for them and good for the teeth. And they love it. The bone cooks up softer if you wrap the Ribs in tin foil before cooking. They actually Steam cook.
Buy a chicken and cook it up. Not fried but boiled. bone it out and make them a chicken meal.I make up dumpling dough and put in it and we all have chicken and dumplings. Neck bones if you can find them are terrific for them. There packed with good stuff. If you cook the chicken long enough and get the bones soft enough you can run them through a blender and make a puree out of them. I just drop chunks of chicken and bone in blender and blend. Pressure cooking makes em really soft. And there are so many nutrients in it.
My babies also get Venison. I get it from the meat processing place's and cook it up and freeze it. Then they have a supply of meat for a while.
The difference in feeding what your baby really needs and just feeding it puppy food is the size of your baby. Most pups fed on regular dog food are going to be around 7-8# at 6 weeks. Puppies raised on really good food are going to be 9-13# at 6 weeks. This is speaking from experience with mine and My Daughters puppies on Holistic food and all that I feed my puppies.
From Ike Brown I got this chart on where your puppy should be at what age. See below. Fed Standard Puppy food.
Puppies usually weigh between 8 and 16 oz. at birth:
******* are generally heavier than the dog until the age of 5 weeks.
At One Week Of Age: ******* weigh 1 Lb. 6 oz. Dogs weigh 1 Lb. 5 oz.
At Two Weeks Of Age: ******* weigh 2 Lbs. 9 oz. Dogs weigh 2 Lbs. 7 oz.
At Three Weeks Of Age: ******* weigh 3 Lbs. 6 oz. Dogs weigh 3 Lbs. 4 oz.
At Four Weeks Of Age: ******* weigh 4 Lbs. 12 oz. Dogs weigh 4 Lbs. 8 oz.
AtSix Weeks Of Age: (Dogs take over and are about 2 oz. heavier). ******* 8 Lbs. 2 oz. Dogs weigh 8 Lbs. 4 oz.
At Eight Weeks Of Age: Difference is often as much as 1/2 Lbs. Bitches12 Lbs. Dogs 12 1/2 Lbs.
Well have a good time with your babies and if you have any questions feel free to email any of us and ask. There is never a dumb question.
Good Guy Bacteria
Probiotic Literally means ‘for life’ or ‘supporting life,’’’ says veterinary naturopath Jeannie Thomason of Cottonwood, Calif. These microorganisms are the friendly flora and “good” bacteria that reside in the intestinal tract and work with the body to prevent the overgrowth of “bad” bacteria.
By contrast, antibiotic translates as “against life.” In there quest for annihilation, antibiotics destroy good microbes along with the bad ones.
All dogs can benefit from regular supplementation with probiotics to help maintain a healthy gut, according to Thomason.
“Probiotics are the body’s first line of defense against all the potentially harmful microorganisms: inhaled or ingested, Thomason says.
“Think of them as a mighty bacterial army that defends the body against dangerous invaders. Having sufficient numbers of these friendly bacteria will help prevent a wide range of health problems. “
Probiotics reduce cholesterol levels, blood pressure, yeast growth, and toxin levels, and improve lactose tolerance, good digestion and nutrient absorption, Thomason says.
There are no contraindications for adding probiotics to a dog’s diet. “In some dongs, it may cause a little gas in the beginning.” Thomason says. “but that is actually rare.”
Not all probiotics are created equal. That old standby- a dollop of yogurt - is probably not your best choice. “Dogs lack the digestive enzymes to properly utilize dairy products.” Thomason says. “and most yogurt is pasteurized, which is a process that kills bacteria- both good and bad. “
Ditto for freeze -dried probiotics because processing can weaken the bacteria, as can the addition of stabilizers and preservatives.
Instead, go for live bacteria supplementation. The packaging should indicate that the probiotics are in live form and contain a mixture of more than one strain of bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. Also check the use by date. The longer a product is on the shelf, the fewer live bacteria will survive.
Yogurt
Yogurt is really good for your dog. A container of Yogurt a day is recommended by Star's vet.
Probiotic Literally means ‘for life’ or ‘supporting life,’’’ says veterinary naturopath Jeannie Thomason of Cottonwood, Calif. These microorganisms are the friendly flora and “good” bacteria that reside in the intestinal tract and work with the body to prevent the overgrowth of “bad” bacteria.
By contrast, antibiotic translates as “against life.” In there quest for annihilation, antibiotics destroy good microbes along with the bad ones.
All dogs can benefit from regular supplementation with probiotics to help maintain a healthy gut, according to Thomason.
“Probiotics are the body’s first line of defense against all the potentially harmful microorganisms: inhaled or ingested, Thomason says.
“Think of them as a mighty bacterial army that defends the body against dangerous invaders. Having sufficient numbers of these friendly bacteria will help prevent a wide range of health problems. “
Probiotics reduce cholesterol levels, blood pressure, yeast growth, and toxin levels, and improve lactose tolerance, good digestion and nutrient absorption, Thomason says.
There are no contraindications for adding probiotics to a dog’s diet. “In some dongs, it may cause a little gas in the beginning.” Thomason says. “but that is actually rare.”
Not all probiotics are created equal. That old standby- a dollop of yogurt - is probably not your best choice. “Dogs lack the digestive enzymes to properly utilize dairy products.” Thomason says. “and most yogurt is pasteurized, which is a process that kills bacteria- both good and bad. “
Ditto for freeze -dried probiotics because processing can weaken the bacteria, as can the addition of stabilizers and preservatives.
Instead, go for live bacteria supplementation. The packaging should indicate that the probiotics are in live form and contain a mixture of more than one strain of bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. Also check the use by date. The longer a product is on the shelf, the fewer live bacteria will survive.
Yogurt
Yogurt is really good for your dog. A container of Yogurt a day is recommended by Star's vet.
5 Dangerous Pet Food Ingredients
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all ingredients be listed on pet food labels. However, an instance like that which occurred in 2007 cannot be prevented by simply examining food labels. What you can do is pay close attention to the ingredients in your pet’s food in order to prevent and future problems. Here, a list of five ingredients you may not your critter consuming.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all ingredients be listed on pet food labels. However, an instance like that which occurred in 2007 cannot be prevented by simply examining food labels. What you can do is pay close attention to the ingredients in your pet’s food in order to prevent and future problems. Here, a list of five ingredients you may not your critter consuming.
- Salt. Just like in humans, salt is known to cause kidney and heart disease as well as high blood pressure in animals. What’s more, salt can also be used to cover up rancid meat in pet food.
- Meat and Bone. Buyer beware of finding “meat and bone” in the ingredient listing. According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), animal parts can be obtained from any source, including “4-D animals” (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter). It can also include decomposed tissue and cancerous tissue.
- “By-Product Meal” By definition, by-product meal consists of the ground portions of beef, pork, or poultry that is not the clean meat. By-product meal can be composed of necks, intestines, intestines, snouts, organs, undeveloped eggs, bone, and feet.
- Tetra Sodium Pyrophosphate (TSP). Traditionally used in rust remover in various cleaning products, TSP can cause nausea and diarrhea. The chemical is used in pet food for the emulsification of animal fats
- Human Painkillers Although it may sound unbelievable, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) reports that acetaminophen has been found in some brands of pet food. According to the ASPCA, acetaminophen is known to cause swelling of the face and paws, depression, weakness, and difficulty breaking in cats. Dogs are less affected.
Because of so much trouble with Dog food recalls Below is some sights that you can keep tabs on your dog food
Brands.
The following web sites should contain up-to-date information on the pet food recall, what brands and products are affected, and other advice to concerned pet owners:
Food and Drug Administration www.fda.gov/cvm
American Veterinary Medical Association www.avma.org
AVMA Pet Food Recall www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall
Pet Food Institute www.petfoodinstitute.org
American Feed Industry Association www.afia.org
American Pet Products Manufacturers Association www.appma.org
Brands.
The following web sites should contain up-to-date information on the pet food recall, what brands and products are affected, and other advice to concerned pet owners:
Food and Drug Administration www.fda.gov/cvm
American Veterinary Medical Association www.avma.org
AVMA Pet Food Recall www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall
Pet Food Institute www.petfoodinstitute.org
American Feed Industry Association www.afia.org
American Pet Products Manufacturers Association www.appma.org
I run across this called how to Grade your dogs food.
They only had one of the blue Buffalo they graded. Each of Blue Buffalo's
dog foods has different ingredients. I have used them all. And the Puppy formula's
score even higher than what is shown here. I will try to get them analyzed and up here later.
They only had one of the blue Buffalo they graded. Each of Blue Buffalo's
dog foods has different ingredients. I have used them all. And the Puppy formula's
score even higher than what is shown here. I will try to get them analyzed and up here later.
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, Dec 21 2009, 9:25 PM EST
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